Aranui III Celebrates 10 Years Sailing Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia; 14-Day Journey Starts at $2346

Aranui III celebrates 10 years sailing through remote Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia (photo credit – Danee Hazama & Julien Avrial)

The new year marks the 10th anniversary of the Aranui III (www.Aranui.com) plying the waters of exotic French Polynesia with an itinerary that includes Tahiti and the remote Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands. The Aranui III is a well-appointed passenger-cargo vessel that offers 17 departures of the two-week cruise with rates starting at $2,346 per person, based on double occupancy.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary, the Aranui III will change the itinerary of its March 16 sailing by combining visits to Puamau and Atuona on Hiva-Oa to one day on March 21 and adding a stop in Bora Bora on March 28. In Puamau, travelers will visit an archeological site followed by lunch and a visit of Paul Gauguin’s grave and the village in Atuona. The visit to Bora Bora includes a picnic on the white sand beach of Motu, a private island, highlighted by roasted pig, shellfish curry and pumpkin pie, snorkeling and swimming with the sting rays.

The Aranui III departs from the Tahitian city of Papeete on a regularly scheduled 14-day journey.

Travelers can take advantage of a special 10% discount offered on select sailings throughout the year including a “Spring Discount” for the Feb. 23 sailing, a “Promotional Discount” for the April 6 itinerary, a “Pre-Summer Discount” for the June 8 sailing and a “Senior Special” for the Aug. 31 itinerary.

Travelers will board the Aranui III for a “Freighter to Paradise” complete vacation experience through 800 miles of the most spectacular and remote islands in exotic French Polynesia including Tahiti, the Tuamotu Islands and Marquesas Islands.

Travelers booking a stay aboard the Aranui III can choose from four different cabin categories – Suite, Deluxe, Standard and Class C – each providing different room configurations.

The Suites are large outside cabins (some with a balcony) featuring a queen-size bed, refrigerator and private bathroom facilities with a bathtub. Rates for a suite start at $5,331 per person.

The Deluxe rooms are large outside cabins designed with a queen-size bed, refrigerator and private bathroom facilities with a bathtub. Rates for the deluxe option start at $4,879 per person.

The Standard rooms are outside cabins with two lower berths and private bathroom facilities. Prices for the standard room start $4,018 per person.

The Class C option is described as a dormitory style room with upper and lower berths, air conditioning but without private bathroom facilities. Prices start at $2,346 per person.

All rates quoted are per person and do not include port tax, cruise tax and tourism tax, which may total up to $350 depending on stateroom category, as well as a fuel surcharge of $100 per person.

The cruise includes three meals with complimentary wine daily, guided excursions outlined in the itinerary, picnic and meals on shore. Optional excursions such as scuba diving and fishing are additional.

For more information or to book an Aranui III vacation, call 800-972-7268 or visit http://www.aranui.com.

 

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Quark Expeditions announces 2013-14 Antarctic Season; Book by Sept 30 for Discounts

Polar Pioneer Introduces the First-Ever Polar Floating Film Festival Voyage and a New Fly Cruise Itinerary

Quark Expeditions, a leader in polar adventure, has just announced its Antarctic 2013 -2014 season. Highlights include a voyage featuring the first-ever Floating Polar Film Festival in conjunction with Hot Docs, a fly-cruise itinerary that takes passengers across the Antarctic Circle, and a 23-day ‘do it all’ Antarctic adventure. The Epic Antarctica itinerary is the only voyage of its kind to take passengers to South Georgia, the Falkland Islands as well as the Antarctic Peninsula.

With 32 departures starting November 1, 2013, Quark offers more Antarctic voyages than any other Polar operator.

New Expeditions Added

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica via Buenos Aires: Explorers and Kings
The inaugural voyage of the season aboard the Sea Spirit offers passengers an unprecedented experience. Departing from Buenos Aires, the 22-day voyage offers passengers the first-ever Floating Polar Film Festival. Curated by North America’s largest documentary festival, Hot Docs, this on-board festival will feature a diverse documentary film program set against the remote beauty of Antarctic waters. The journey starts on November 1, 2013 on the Sea Spirit.

Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle
Quark’s newest fly-cruise voyage offers passengers all the incredible experiences and bragging rights of crossing the Antarctic Circle, in less time than a typical voyage. This new 11-day expedition (instead of the usual 15) departs on December 22, 2013 and will have passengers celebrating New Year’s Eve aboard the Sea Adventurer.

Crossing the Circle via Falklands & South Georgia: Epic Antarctica
For those looking for the ultimate Antarctic experience, there is now a 23-day ‘do it all’ expedition on the Sea Adventurer which departs February 23, 2014. This extensive itinerary offers travelers a chance to see seven species of penguins, and more than 30 species of birds while visiting the “Galapagos of the Poles.” This is the only voyage available taking passengers to the Falklands and South Georgia as well as across the Antarctic Circle to the Peninsula.

Ships
The largest of Quark’s fleet, the ‘Super Yacht,’ Ocean Diamond, is back with Quark Expeditions for its second season of Carbon Neutral voyages. The ship features unparalleled comfort and stability.

Passengers will enjoy a massage and wellness program, the largest Polar library, in-room flat screen TV and DVD player and each cabin offers exterior views and en-suite bath. An all-inclusive beverage package is also available on this ship.

Sea Adventurer (formerly known as Clipper Adventurer) boasts outside cabins with en-suite facilities, a TV and DVD player in every cabin, a Polar Boutique, internet access, a fitness room and more. All-inclusive beverage packages are available on this ship.

Sea Spirit is Quark’s luxury adventure ‘all-suites’ ship and features all-inclusive beverages on every voyage, every suite has an exterior view and en-suite bath, in-room satellite phone and flat screen TV and DVD player. This ship also offers passengers a hot tub and workout room, polar library and many more amenities to suit every passenger’s needs.

How to Book
As an early booking incentive, travelers who reserve by September 30, 2012 will receive a 25% discount on suites* and 20% off on all other cabin categories.

Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition – 14 & 15 days from $6,995
Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North – 10 days from $7,395
Antarctic Express: Fly South, Cruise North – 9 days from $6,995
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake – 8 days from $7,995
Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle – 11 days from $10,995
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent – 10-12 days from $4,595
Antarctic Peninsula East and West: Explorers’ Route – 15 days from $12,995
South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari – 17 days from $14,995
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica: Explorers and Kings – 19 & 20 days from $9,495
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica via Buenos Aires: Explorers and Kings – 22 days from $13,995
Crossing the Circle via Falklands & South Georgia: Epic Antarctica – 23 days from $13,495

Prices listed above are in U.S. dollars and are per person based on triple occupancy. For more information contact a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 888-892-0171 or visit www.quarkexpeditions.com.

For over 20 years, Quark Expeditions has been the leading provider of polar adventure travel. With its diverse fleet of specially equipped vessels and seasoned expedition leaders, they offer travelers unparalleled access to the most remote regions on earth. In 2011, Quark was named a recipient of National Geographic Traveler’s “50 Tours of a Lifetime” for their “Three Arctic Islands” voyage.

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Zegrahm Expeditions to Offer ‘Vietnam and Cambodia by Sea’ Trip in 2013

Zegrahm Expeditions, a Seattle-based tour operator specializing in an expeditionary style travel, is offering a 19-day Vietnam & Cambodia By Sea” trip, departing January 27, 2013.

From the bustling cities of Vietnam to the forest-enshrouded Angkor temples of Cambodia, this 1,400-mile journey in the comfort of the air-conditioned, 110-passenger Clipper Odyssey showcases a wealth of cultural riches and a bounty of sublime vistas. Travelers get to sample local culinary delights during a private cooking class, you cycle through emerald rice fields, and explore bustling, colorful markets.

Other highlights include:

Exploring the exquisite temple complexes of enchanting Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Cruising down the Perfume River in vibrantly painted dragon boats

Visiting the “forbidden city” of Hue, once the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, the ruins at My Son, and the historic center of Hoi An, all World Heritage Sites

Enjoying a stunning martial arts demonstration with music and dance by Vietnamese hill tribes (see a video from the 2010 Vietnam expedition).

When you travel with Zegrahm, virtually everything is included in the cost of your trip, such as: all gratuities, from porters and ship’s crew to tour guides; all accommodations, including pre-voyage hotel night; welcome dinner and orientation briefing; daily activity options; a top-notch lecture and expedition team; all meals; transfers on group arrival and departure days; gift certificates for recommended expedition gear and reading materials; comprehensive packets to prepare for your trip; medical and emergency evacuation insurance; a dedicated Zegrahm program manager and air coordinator to answer all of your questions.

For details call 800-628-8747 or 206-285-4000 or visit www.zeco.com

 

Zegrahm Expeditions offers Voyage up the West Coast of Africa Visiting 9 Nations

Zegrahm Expeditions, a leader in small ship cruising and overland adventures, is offering a captivating voyage up the West Coast of Africa. Starting in Douala, Cameroon and ending in Dakar, Senegal, the journey visits nine nations and explores the region’s intriguing cultural heritage, storied history, and numerous natural wonders.

In addition, a highlight of the trip is a visit to Greatest Goal Ministries (GGM), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Sierra Leone’s war-affected disabled and amputee community. Trip participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a lively soccer match with the amputees.

“Because of the positive feedback we received from guests on our inaugural Tracing the West Coast of Africa expedition in April 2012, we decided to offer the itinerary again in November 2013,” stated Jon Nicholson, President of Zegrahm Expeditions. “Many of our guests said visiting the GGM clinic and watching the soccer match was the highlight of the trip and was truly inspiring.”

Priced from $13,980 per person, the 18-day Tracing the West Coast of Africa expedition also visits historic ports of call, rich in local culture and colonial architecture, as well as pristine natural areas where guests can search for the abundant animal and bird life that call this region home. Highlights include the lush volcanic islands of São Tomé & Príncipe, the vibrant markets in Benin and Togo, and crossing Africa’s only suspended walkway in Kakum National Forest in Ghana. Guests will also visit Abidjan in Ivory Coast, known as the “Paris of West Africa,” as well as the beautiful beaches of Sierra Leone.

To learn more about the Tracing the West Coast of Africa expedition, to request a brochure, or to make a reservation, please visit www.zeco.com or call 800-628-8747.

 

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Aranui III Offers Early Booking Discounts for First Four Sailings of 2013

Fatu Hiva is regarded as one of the most picturesque islands in the Marquesas (photo credit: Alain Marcouli)

The Aranui III “Freighter to Paradise” has released dates for its first four departures for 2013 – Jan. 12, Feb. 2, Feb. 23 and March 16, and offering travelers who book this exotic one of a kind journey through the French Polynesian Marquesas Islands by Dec. 31, 2011 a 10% discount on the published cruise fare (excluding taxes) for suites, deluxe and standard cabins.

The well-appointed passenger-cargo vessel provides a complete vacation experience following in the footsteps of famous figures such as Treasure Island-author Robert Louis Stevenson. Guests journey through 800 miles of the most spectacular and remote islands in exotic French Polynesia including Tahiti, the Tuamotu Islands and Marquesas Islands.

Highlights include Nuka Hiva, where 23-year-old Herman Melville jumped a whaling ship for an adventure which ultimately inspired highly regarded literary works such as Typee and Moby Dick, and Hiva Oa, where artist Paul Gauguin’s search for an unspoiled paradise came to an end. The ship also visits the Marquesan islands of Tahuata, Ua Pou, Ua Huka and Fatu Hiva, as well as Fakarava and Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Islands.

Prices start at $3,827 per person, based on double occupancy, for a standard cabin. Suites start at 4,982 per person. Rates do not include port tax, cruise tax and tourism tax, which may total up to $350 depending on stateroom category, and an $80 fuel surcharge. Rates are based on 2012 pricing and are subject to change at any time.

The cruise includes three meals with complimentary wine daily, guided excursions outlined in the itinerary, picnic and meals on shore. Optional excursions such as scuba diving, horseback riding, fishing and helicopter tours are additional.

Aranui III

The Aranui III is a mixed passenger-cargo vessel operating between Tahiti and the Marquesas, offering comfortable, air-conditioned accommodations for about two hundred passengers. The ship features 63 tastefully designed standard cabins, nine deluxe staterooms and 14 elegantly appointed private balcony suites.

Featuring a crew primarily composed of local inhabitants from French Polynesia and the Marquesas Islands, the Aranui III combines world class hospitality with top-notch amenities and mesmerizing scenery for an unforgettable sailing experience.

The cruise departs from the Tahitian island of Papeete, visiting the seldomly explored lush, tropical islands of Tahuata, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka and Fatu Hiva, as well as Fakarava and Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Islands, before returning to Papeete.

The on-shore experiences include awe-inspiring hikes past majestic waterfalls and translucent lagoons, jungle ruins and sacred ritual sites with enigmatic petroglyphs, and encounters with local artisans.

For more information, contact Aranui at 800-972-7268 or visit www.aranui.com.

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Cruise North Expeditions continues Arctic polar cruising after Adventure Canada merger

Northern Lights, Alaska © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Cruise North Expeditions, a subsidiary of the Inuit-owned Makivik Corporation, will continue to offer polar cruises with the cultural content and Inuit staffing that has become a trademark of Cruise North Expeditions, as a result of  a new partnership with Adventure Canada.

In 2011, Cruise North Expeditions departures will be merged with Adventure Canada’s Clipper Adventurer schedule, including dedicated CNE programming. The Clipper Adventurer, a sister ship of Lyubov Orlova has benefited from extensive renovation and offers an ideal blend of safety, comfort and functionality that makes it a leader in the field. Cruise North passengers will enjoy enhanced comfort and programming through the new joint venture.

Beginning in 2012, Adventure Canada and Cruise North Expeditions will each continue their traditional offerings of dedicated sailings with Inuit staff, itineraries and programs specially designed to bring benefit and opportunity to the people who call the Arctic home.

Cruise North Expeditions was founded in 2005 by the Makivik Corporation of Quebec, a highly successful investment corporation born of the first modern-day Aboriginal land claim settlement agreement in Canada (the JBNQA of 1975). Makivik also owns the well-respected First Air and Air Inuit.  Cruise North Expeditions earned a place on Conde Nast Traveller’s prestigious “Green List” for their environmental efforts and commitment to helping preserve Inuit culture through tourism.  For more information on Cruise North Expeditions please visit http://www.cruisenorthexpeditions.com or call 866-263-3220

Makivik Corporation is an Inuit organization mandated to protect the rights, interests and financial compensation provided by the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, the first comprehensive Inuit land claim in Canada, and the more recent offshore Nunavik Inuit Land Claim Agreement that came into effect in 2008. Makivik actively promote the preservation of the Inuit culture of Nunavik communities. For more information on Makivik Corporation please visit http://www.makivik.org

Adventure Canada is an award-winning tour operator based in Mississauga, Ontario that has been providing comfortable and educational voyages to the Arctic, and the world, since 1988. With a special blend of academics, thoughtfully planned itineraries, high quality lecturers and programming and old fashioned fun, Adventure Canada’s innovative style has been recognized by fellow leaders in the travel industry with recent awards from the Travel Industry Association of Canada Business of the Year Award, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s Cruise Vision Award and the National Geographic Top 100 Tour Company Award. For more information on Adventure Canada please visit http://www.adventurecanada.com or call 800-363-7566.

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